Superconductivity Observed in Tantalum Polyhydride at High Pressure

Abstract

We here report experimental discovery of tantalum polyhydride superconductor. It was synthesized at high pressure and high temperature conditions using diamond anvil cell combined with in-situ high pressure laser heating techniques. The superconductivity was investigated via resistance measurements at pressures. The highest superconducting transition temperature T c was found to be ~30 K at 197 GPa in the sample that was synthesized at the same pressure with ~2000 K heating. The transitions are shifted to low temperature upon applying magnetic fields that supports the superconductivity nature. The upper critical field at zero temperature μ 0 H c2 (0) of the superconducting phase is estimated to be ~20 T that corresponds to GL coherent length ~40 Å. Our results suggest that the superconductivity may arise from I-43d phase of TaH3. It is for the first time experimental realization of superconducting hydrides for the VB group of transitional metals.

Superconductivity with Tc of 116 K discovered in antimony polyhydrides

“…The synthesis can only be carried out with high laser power that frequently damages the anvils. This prevents us from further increasing or releasing pressure to study the pressure dependence of SC as we have performed for other polyhydride superconductor studies [ 18 , 26 ]. The zero resistance at zero field is suppressed by applying a magnetic field.…”

“…For the heavy rare earth elements with f shell fully filled, the lutetium hydride of Lu 4 H 23 was reported to exhibit SC with T c = 71 K at 218 GPa [ 21 ]. The hydrides of IVB and VB group metal of Zr, Hf and Ta were found to host SC at megabar pressure with T c = 71 K [ 22 ], 83 K [ 23 ] and 30 K [ 26 ], respectively. Most discovered binary hydride superconductors are found to be located in group IIA and IIIB in the periodic table and have electronegative values smaller than 1.5.…”

Quantifying the Nonadiabaticity Strength Constant in Recently Discovered Highly-Compressed Superconductor

“…This research field represents one of the most fascinating scientific and technological explorations in modern condensed-matter physics. In this area of research, advanced first-principles calculations [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] are essential parts of the experimental quest for the discovery of new hydrides phases [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], and both of these directions drive the development of new experimental techniques with which to study highly pressurized materials [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31].…”

“…From 2015 until now, several dozen high-temperature superconducting polyhydride phases have been discovered and studied [1,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]24,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. At the same time, highpressure studies of superconductivity and high-pressure material synthesis [46][47][48] in nonhydrides (including cuprates [49][50][51][52]) have also progressed [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62], including the observation of T c > 26 K in highly compressed elemental titanium [63,64] and scandium [65,66], and the discovery that T onset c ∼ = 78 K [67,68] and T zero c ∼ = 45 K [69]…”

Influence of High-Pressure Induced Lattice Dislocations and Distortions on Thermoelectric Performance of Pristine SnTe

“…[21] With the advancement of preparation technology and scientific research, an increasing number of innovative fabrication methods are being continuously developed and refined, among which high-pressure technology has been proved as a novel approach in manipulating the properties of materials. [22][23][24] The approach offers the advantages of rapid synthesis, a straightforward preparation process, and the enhancement of various material properties through tuning the geometry and electronic structures. [25][26][27] Jia et al revealed that under high pressure (5.2 GPa), the carrier concentration of PbTe is more than ten times of † These authors contributed equally to this work.…”